Purpose <p>Since COVID-19, tele-based methods of autism assessment have been relied upon to a previously unparalleled degree; however, the need for such advancements is not new. Observation-based measures are a crucial component of face-to-face autism diagnostic evaluations, but few validated observation tools exist for remotely assessing autism across childhood, offering minimal guidance for older children and adolescents. Sanchez and Constantino previously validated a brief, face-to-face, clinician-facilitated observation coded according to the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Second Edition (CARS-2). During the pandemic, this measure was adapted as a remote observation, but has yet to be validated in this format.</p> Methods <p>The current study validated this remote observation against the in-person Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2), in a sample of 30 children ages 1-16 years (<i>M</i> = 7.25, <i>SD</i> = 4.05).</p> Results <p>The remote observation was highly correlated with the ADOS-2 (<i>r</i> = .75, <i>p</i> &lt; .001) and Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (<i>r </i>= .74, <i>p</i> &lt; .001), and demonstrated acceptable sensitivity (88.9%) and specificity (80%) in predicting research diagnostic classification. The remote observation correctly predicted whether a child met criteria for a research diagnosis of autism in 82.8% of cases, and the same classification as the ADOS-2 in 72.4% of cases.</p> Conclusions <p>This pilot study offers preliminary support for the validity of this brief, accessible, remote autism observation. This is a crucial step in ensuring uniform training and clinical procedures for tele-assessment of autism, to help mitigate long-standing barriers to service access (e.g., geography, cost, availability).</p>

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Autism Assessment From Home: Piloting a Brief, Remote Autism Observation for Children

  • Jennifer R. Bertollo,
  • Megan Fok,
  • Daniele C. Martino,
  • Elizabeth A. DeLucia,
  • Michael Bunis,
  • Angela Scarpa

摘要

Purpose

Since COVID-19, tele-based methods of autism assessment have been relied upon to a previously unparalleled degree; however, the need for such advancements is not new. Observation-based measures are a crucial component of face-to-face autism diagnostic evaluations, but few validated observation tools exist for remotely assessing autism across childhood, offering minimal guidance for older children and adolescents. Sanchez and Constantino previously validated a brief, face-to-face, clinician-facilitated observation coded according to the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Second Edition (CARS-2). During the pandemic, this measure was adapted as a remote observation, but has yet to be validated in this format.

Methods

The current study validated this remote observation against the in-person Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition (ADOS-2), in a sample of 30 children ages 1-16 years (M = 7.25, SD = 4.05).

Results

The remote observation was highly correlated with the ADOS-2 (r = .75, p < .001) and Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (r = .74, p < .001), and demonstrated acceptable sensitivity (88.9%) and specificity (80%) in predicting research diagnostic classification. The remote observation correctly predicted whether a child met criteria for a research diagnosis of autism in 82.8% of cases, and the same classification as the ADOS-2 in 72.4% of cases.

Conclusions

This pilot study offers preliminary support for the validity of this brief, accessible, remote autism observation. This is a crucial step in ensuring uniform training and clinical procedures for tele-assessment of autism, to help mitigate long-standing barriers to service access (e.g., geography, cost, availability).